I have competed in two Olympic Games. The first was Beijing 2008 and most recently at the London 2012 Games.
I have trained full time for the past 4 years, and have had some success, but have not reached the heights i originally aimed for.
I am currently starting preparations for the World Championships in Moscow, Russia next August, and also thinking toward my next Olympic Games in Rio.
I run the 110 High Hurdles (track and field), and my personal best is 13.49 which is my national record here in Puerto Rico. The time is good enough for top 50 in the World in any given year and will continuing to qualify me for many more World Championships and Olympic Games, but its still a ways off from the world record, and a few tenths off of making a decent living running track.
After 2 disappointing Olympic Games, i am still motivated and and optimistic about my track career, and still look forward to meeting my goals in the future.
Feel free to ask anything you’d like. My Olympic experience? the training? the traveling? the sacrifices?
Nothing is off limits. And dont be afraid to bring up the drug stuff. I can give you an athletes point of view on the matter.
I assume training at this level is a full time job. Which means you have to find sponsors, correct? How do you persuade people to sponsor you? What’s in it for them? (I never pay much attention to sports so if the answer to this question is obvious please indulge me… )
Also, because you know people on the internet will try to verify these things…
Hector Cotto specializes in the 110 meter hurdles, is from Puerto Rico, and competed in 2008. But he didn’t compete in 2012. His personal best is the same as the one you list, though. So is that who you are? If so, what did you mean when you said you competed in 2012? Why does Wikipedia say you didn’t?
For top-level athletes, what’s most important: genetics, hard work or opportunities to train with the right coaches? Can you compare how important each factor is? Is it different in different sports? How much of a role does luck play?
Thanks in advance, this is going to be a fun thread.
Training is a full time affair. though ive never looked at it as a job, most people dont associate happy emotions with their jobs, so i try never to think of what i do as a job.
But it is a full time deal. I have had a wide range of different training strategies, but training is usually 5-6hrs a day, broken up into multiple sessions.
Earning a living in track and field, is a bit different than other sports. You are basically as good as your last race.
There are a few who pick up nice sponsorship, but for the most part they aren’t worth much. 25-60k a year if you can rank in the top 10, but they can go for over 6figures if you do something noteworthy, such as win a World Championship or Olympic Medal.
Most money in track and field is earned from racing. an athlete is paid in 2 ways.
Appearance fee- which is money paid for showing up
Race Prize- money paid depending on your placing at the meet 1-8th
Any given track has only 8 lanes, and with thousands of athletes looking to fill the lanes, it can get pretty competitive.
Persuasion usually comes by way of your performances. Sponsors look to get their name out their (exposure is the the draw for a company) and so they generally want an athlete who is making the podium (top 3) at most international meets.
An athlete (especially in track and field) is cheap marketing for a company. How much would you pay for your brand to be seen by a couple million more people a year? Certainly its worth the 25k contracts most athletes have.
I currently do not have sponsors, as most track and field agents only go after shoe companies, and i have not been able to achieve a top 10 ranking that would merit (in the companies eyes) a contract.
My new manager though is going after local companies and non apparel companies though, so im hoping to have a few soon.
My living income consist of the stipends i get from my athletic federation, and the money i make running at various track meets around the world.
hanging out at the Olympic Village is indeed an incredible experience. You are surrounded by thousands of individuals all living out their dreams. You see stars from many different sports, and get the chance, mignle with some of the athletes, you thought you’d only ever see from the stands, or the television.
their is a definite “feeling” to being int he Olympic Village.
almost like when you think of yourself as a little kid growing up in your old neighborhood, their are certain emotions that always arise, when recalling the memories. (if that makes any sense)
as a hurdler (and athlete) my biggest weakness is my brain. I have always had the problem of “thinking” too much.
There is a time to be logical, and a time to just let things happen. I have the bad habit of thinking too much, and not trusting my instincts and my training to lead me to success.
As far as physical setbacks. Id say my flexibility, it is something i am currently working on now.
Ive always cleared the hurdled fairly easily. But upon watching video frame by frame, it is clear that i don not clear the hurdle as efficiently necessary and its due to a lack of flexibility in certain areas. Its a matter of inches and degrees (angles), that make the difference between running fast, and running slow and so im looking to adjust those errors now.
I’ve always thought the hurdles event would be more exciting if the hurdles were also on fire. Are there any current plans to move forward with this idea?
Since you’re from Puerto Rico, how would the potential of statehood from the recent election affect you with respect to international competition? I assume that were it to happen, the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee would then have to be combined with the US Olympic Committee.
Well there are tons of factors that go into one reaching the heights of the Olympics but Most do not have to do with genetics.
Genetics is the one thing that cant, for the most part, be altered. You were either born to be 6’3" or you were born to be 5’11", but it still is not the biggest factor in being successful.
there are plenty of avenues to take in an effort to reach your goals. And thats where the remainder of the factors come in.
There are obviously an enormous amount of factors, that play a role in achieving the heights of a professional, but i will tell you a few that are KEY and controlled completely by the athlete.
Passion
-how much do you want something? All the talent int he world, and no desire to take advantage of it, wont make a champion. I have seen hundreds of talented kids walk away from sports, for lack of interest.
Confidence
-confidence is going to be the final determinant, in most cases, between 1st and 2nd place. most people say they are confident about something, but they are really just trying to convince themselves, and others, that they are.
Self-Discipline
-this is quite honestly the toughest one, and despite of the “physical” association you make with the word, it is actually mostly mental. I say “self” discipline, because this is the form that truly matters. You can be disciplined when told what to do by your coach. But thats pretty much everybody. What sets the greats apart from the rest, is that they have high self discipline. Either by creating better habits, or having the mental power to simply make a decision and stick to it. Regardless this must be developed to some degree or another in order to succeed.
good coaching, good school,s good mentos, supporting family and friends… all of these kinds of factors are important too, but most (if not all) of these factors are controlled by LUCK.
I was LUCKY that my moms new boyfriend moved us to the suburbs. I was LUCKY that at the county meet, the guy in 1st place fell therefore allowing me to win an qualify for the NY state meet (key moment in my athletic history). i was LUCKY that the coach at my 2nd HS was true track fan, and did anything for me so i could compete. i was LUCKY that East Carolina’s head coach Bill Carson was a gambling man, and allowed me to transfer to his school on scholarship, despite my being away from the sport for 2 years. I was LUCKY that a coach at that university had coached a former Puerto Rican national athlete, and introduced me to the athletic federation. I was LUCKY to find a coach willing to help me train in Boston (2008) and therefore allowing me to compete in my first Olympic Games.
Luck does have a very important role, as you can see from my own history. but i believe that the 3 key ingredients that i had, on more than a few occasions, put me in position to “get lucky”. So regardless, in the end, it wont be the reason for your ultimate success. that will be decided by the individual.
though i could be wrong.
im not claiming to be an expert. i just have a bit of experience with what has worked.
have to train in the AM. so ill answer more questions tomorrow.
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